DPD says farewell to Renee Hall as she leaves to be Dallas' top cop

DETROIT (WJBK) - One of Detroit's finest is getting a big city police department of her own.

Deputy Chief Renee Hall is moving on to the other "D" -- Dallas, where she'll become the city's first female chief.

Many of Detroit's finest gathered Wednesday night to say goodbye to Hall, a beloved member of the DPD command staff - who says she is more than ready to take on her new position.

"I am excited about my new family," she said. "I was down in Dallas last week and they welcomed me with open arms. I got a Stetson hat, it was great.

From the Motor City to the Metroplex. More than 100 people gathered at Comerica Park's Tigers Den to say good-bye to Hall as she prepares to take the job as the Dallas police chief.

Hall will be the city's first female chief.

"It's a job for 'him' they kept saying that and I said where is it written that the police chief should be a man," she said. "I'm just excited we have graduated to recognize the best person for the job and not the gender."

But there's no doubt, she'll have her work cut out for her. Like Detroit police at one time, Dallas dealing with a mass exodus of officers, lack of morale and lagging response time.

Hall is replacing former Chief David Brown who retired just months after five officers were killed during a Black Lives Matter rally last July.

Hall has already set her priorities.

"One is to focus on the officers to make sure their morale is intact," she said. "To see the little wins I can provide and then simultaneously work along the community to make sure we are addressing quality of life and crime. I think by doing those 1, 2, 3s, we will be great."

And if you ask Detroit Chief James Craig who praised his former deputy chief for her hard work and passion, he'll tell you they picked the right person to turn things around.

"Certainly her engagement," Craig said. "I used to call her all the time. If I had a concern, if I found out there was some disruption downtown, or traffic was snarled, or we got a crime issue, I would ring that phone and she always answered.

"Not only would she answer, but she got it done."

Hall's dedication to protect and serve runs deep - her father was a Detroit police officer killed when she was just a child. His murder remains unsolved.

Hall has overseen some of the most violent precincts and has been able to connect with the community on a personal level.

She says the move is bittersweet - but believes it is meant to be.

"I miss my family, these guys are my family," she said. "I grew up in the city of Detroit , I grew up almost 19 years in the police department - they are who I'll miss most."